LABOR'S Shadow Health Minister Catherine King and Federal Werriwa MP Laurie Ferguson hosted a forum for Lurnea residents last week, to discuss affordable health under the current government.

The pair highlighted their objections to the Abbott Government's budget proposals, including the $7 co-payment to be paid by all when visiting a doctor.

Mr Ferguson said the proposed budget had received a lot of community interest, specially in areas within south-west Sydney.

"We chose to have the forum in Lurnea, because of its very high proportion of public housing and from the large number of people contacting us," he said.

During the forum, Ms King told residents she felt the Abbot budget was unfair when it came to health care.

"I have been talking to general practitioners and health academics and I have also made the time to talk to people in neighbourhoods and communities," she said.

"I have done this to make sure I understand their experiences of the health system and to reiterate that Labor built Medicare and it is now in the position where we have to defend it again.

"We really have a fight on our hands to make sure people get access to affordable health care."

Ms King said the government claimed that its safety net would protect people.

"It will affect people like pensioners and those on low incomes, and those people will never reach that safety net for the GP tax," she said.

"The government has been able to unite the Australian Medical Association, the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners and the Consumer Health Forum of Australia, all against the government's health policy."

Ms King said people should not just focus on the increased costs of seeing a GP.

"The government has also increased the cost of pharmaceuticals so every time you go and get a script it will cost more," Ms King said.

"And they have cut $50 million out of the public hospitals system and cut all of the money from the preventative health program."